Irish cream of the crop tipped for TV awards

IRISH presenters and comedians are continuing their domination of the small screen across the water.

A number of comedians, presenters, actors and personalities have been nominated across various categories for this year's UK National Television Awards.

BBC star and Cork native Graham Norton (49) will go head-to-head with 'Chatty Man' Alan Carr as he battles it out for the Entertainment Programme gong.

Hit reality series The Only Way is Essex and I'm A Celebrity also are in the running for the award.

Comedian Dara O Briain (40) has been nominated for his role on topical panel show Mock The Week.

The show, which regularly features Irish comedians Ed Byrne and Andrew Maxwell, is up against Have I Got News For You.

Stephen Fry's QI and Rob Brydon's series Would I Lie To You are also in the running.

BAFTA winner Brendan O'Carroll is hotly tipped to win an award with his comedy series Mrs Brown's Boys a strong favourite to win the Situation Comedy Trophy.

The Christmas Eve episode alone attracted 11.7 million viewers for the BBC -- while more than a million tuned in to see it on RTE.

This year could be another good year for Irish actor Emmet Scanlon (33) who has won a clutch of awards for his portrayal of Brendan Brady in Channel 4 soap Hollyoaks.

The Dublin actor is up again for Serial Drama Performance but faces stiff competition from Coronation Street's Michelle Keegan and Eastenders' Adam Woodyatt.

Meanwhile, Armagh native Colin Morgan is up for his lead role in Merlin which wrapped this year. The 27-year-old has said that if the series is made into a movie he would love to reprise his role.

Christine Bleakley (33) and the team behind flashy Dancing On Ice have been nominated for Best Talent Show. She'll be battling it out with Louis Walsh and The X Factor.

The Script frontman Danny O'Donoghue will be flying the flag for BBC's The Voice. Skerries lad Ryan O'Shaughnessy was one of the top performers on Britain's Got Talent which is also in with a shot of bagging the title.

Westlife's Nicky Byrne will be cheering on Strictly Come Dancing which has also made the list.